Disposable medical device assembly with sensor

Abstract

A disposable medical device assembly for measuring a physiological parameter in a urinary or gastrointestinal tract of a mammal being is disclosed, comprising a probe, such as a catheter, for insertion into a bodily opening of the mammal being. The probe comprises at least one sensor, such as a pressure sensor. The medical device further comprises an energy source, in the form of a biofuel cell, connected to the at least one sensor.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A disposable medical device assembly for measuring a physiological parameter in a urinary or gastrointestinal tract of a mammal being, the assembly comprising:
 a probe for insertion into a bodily opening of said mammal being, said probe comprising at least one sensor; and   an energy source connected to said at least one sensor;   wherein said energy source is a biofuel cell.   
     
     
         2 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an interface arranged to transfer measurement data from said sensor to an external receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the interface comprises a connector arranged to connect to a wire. 
     
     
         4 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the interface is a wireless interface, and comprises a transmitter for wireless communication. 
     
     
         5 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the interface comprises at least one of a display and a speaker. 
     
     
         6 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is made of a biodegradable material. 
     
     
         7 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biofuel cell comprises a microbial and/or enzymatic solution, and wherein the biofuel cell is an enzymatic fuel cell. 
     
     
         8 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biofuel cell is made of materials comprising a biodegradable and/or compostable material, and a metal free organic material. 
     
     
         9 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biofuel cell and/or the probe is made of materials comprising a biobased material. 
     
     
         10 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a position sensor, an imaging sensor, an accelerometer a gyroscope, a pH sensor or a flow sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one pressure sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a sensor arranged in the vicinity of an insertable tip of the probe, and the at least one sensor is arranged on an insertable part of the probe at a distance form said insertable tip. 
     
     
         13 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is arranged for insertion into the urethra or rectum of the mammal being. 
     
     
         14 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the probe is arranged for insertion into the urethra of the mammal being, and comprises at least two sensors, one arranged in the vicinity of an insertable tip of the probe, for measurement of a pressure inside the bladder, and at least one sensor arranged on an insertable part of the probe at a distance form said insertable tip, for measurement of a pressure inside the urethra. 
     
     
         15 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one sensor for measurement of the pressure inside the urethra comprises one sensor arranged to measure the pressure in the vicinity of a prostate, and one sensor arranged to measure the pressure inside the urethra at a distance from the prostate. 
     
     
         16 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second probe, the second probe also comprising at least one sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The disposable medical device assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the biofuel cell is arranged at a distance from said at least one sensor, and wherein a conductor is provided in the probe forming a conductive path between the biofuel cell and the sensor(s).